July

The month of July was crazy. Abby had swim lessons everyday for 3 weeks straight. She loved it! Some days Katie would play but others she just fell asleep on me exhausted.

 The girls are getting along so well. Katie just follows Abby around and thinks whatever game Abby comes up with is the best!

 For the 4th of July we met our friends the Daigles for a parade. The kids and dads stood on the side of the road and watched the cars and people go by. Candy was thrown to the crowds so the kids loved that!

 The girls had their faces painted...

 Rode on so many fun rides...

 Got fun treats...

 and watched the fireworks.

 We love going on walks everyday. I am trying to stay in shape and get this baby ready to come out. I have been having Braxton hicks since June and they are starting to get painful. I'm feelings ready!

 Abby was afraid to jump of the diving board herself so her instructor held her over the edge and dropped her in. Then she is caught by the other instructor in the water. She loves that!

 Here she is being too scared.

 Abby is such a ham. She loves to make faces and silly poses when I take a picture.

 Abby learned to float on her back and she is so proud of herself.

 The last day of swim lessons was more of a play day so they got to ride on this board...

 and hold onto a lifesaver and get dragged around.

 Abby loved her teacher and thought she was so pretty.

 The girls love to go shopping with me. I've stopped taking a cart and let them push the little ones. They load their carts up and sneak a few items.

 I just couldn't resist this picture of them!

 Katie is so sweet. She's been sleeping with different dolls every night.

 Abby had a week long ballet camp. She was so cute!

 Abby loved her teachers and was so proud of her dancing.

 John and I snuck in a trip to Boston. We went to the Red Sox vs. Yankee game at Fenway Park. We dressed in neutral white but secretly cheered for the Yankees. Our friends the Bennetts came and we showed them some of Boston. We also went to the temple for the last time before this little baby comes!

 Katie is just so cute in her little playhouse. She loves it!

 We have been frequenting a friends pool and Katie loves to be in the water.

 She's going to be surfing before I know it!

 Abby finally got brave enough to try the slide.

 A neighbor down the street wanted to get rid of their playset so we took it off their hands. John got 6 men to come help move it down the street to our backyard. They literally just walked the playset down. It was kind of crazy.

 Our new backyard set up.

 The girls love it! It is a hit and they wake up wanting to go outside to play.

 Abby has learned to pump all by herself and Katie isn't afraid to swing.

 Grandma VanDerwerken had a birthday so all the adults went out to dinner.

June

To prepare for our new baby, we got bunk beds for the girls! Katie is so excited to sleep in her new bed. I put together the bunk bed in 1 and 1/2 hours and then we went shopping for their bedding. The girls picked it out so we had no problem transitioning to this new arrangement. Katie slept in her new bed and room just fine. We put a gate in front of their door so Katie couldn't get out and let them stay up and play as long as they wanted. Finally by 10:30 we didn't hear the pitter-patter of little feet and sure enough they had fallen asleep in their own beds. It's been a work in progress by they are finally going to sleep earlier and the novelty has worn off.

The minute I finished making her bed, Katie climbed on and laid claim to her spot.

Abby is so happy to have the top. She keeps saying that when Katie is bigger she can have the top sometimes.

My little girls are such good helpers. They love to cook with their mommy.

We made breakfast in bed for daddy for Father's Day. He loved every thing and even shared some with the 2 vultures at his side.

We've been getting fresh veggies from a stand on the side of the road and Katie and discovered that corn on the cob is the best! She loves it and will even try to eat it before I cook it.

John turned 31 this year! I can't believe how much time had flown by. I made him a strawberry pie of course. He is so amazing and doing so well at work. He still plays basketball all the time and does some running with friends. He still looks the same from the day I married him but I love him more each day!

On our walks, the girls stop and pick flowers. They love to collect flowers to show daddy when he gets home. Abby even told me she was picking flowers for her wedding to Daddy. She is too funny!

We have so much fun playing in the backyard. The swing I bought is definitely getting it's usage.

Katie turned 2 this month! We had a family get together and then a dinner with just us.

Katie loved her strawberry cupcakes! I can't believe my baby is growing up so fast. She still doesn't talk at all but she communicates just fine without words. She is still so snuggly and delicious. Her cheeks are the best and I can't stop kissing her. She agrees with her big sister most of the time and is the best sharer. At her 2 year appointment she weighed 24 lbs. and was 33 1/2 inches tall. I couldn't imagine life without our little Katie!



For John's birthday he got a painting that he has wanted for a while now. We love the horses at the Saratoga Track and since we live here now it seemed appropriate to have one. It is beautiful!